The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-01-27
HIS OPPORTUNITY.
How It Was Enjoyed by Samuel
Pulsifer.

How It Was Enjoyed by Samuel
Pulsifer.
"Ask Sarmwell, ask Sarmwell," said the
host of the Harbor House, wiisking the
flies from his bald head as he sat tilted
against the wall upon his veranda "If it's
any thing that Sarmwell can't tell you, you
might as well give it up. believe that fel
Ter would make King Solomon draw in his
horns, if it amt perfanin' Scripter to say
so. IN raised right here in these parts, &c
fur as you can call it raisin'; he docs the
most of it himself though 'Lias Moody did
take him in m keep him off'n the town
when he was a little mite of chap, m did
for him consid' able when he had any thing
to do with-shifless, 'Lias was-but, land
'twan't long that anybody was called upon
to do for Sarmwell Took care of himself
ever sence he was as high as that gardi
neer'-the landlord pointed to a red tub
containing wlted geranium. which con,
stituted the houses claim to 'shighly orna-
mented grounds" as per advertisement.
"Fit his way along smarter'n steel-trap,
lookin' into every thing m learnin' more'n
the schoo[masterk knew fit his way through
college, workin' every spare minute
school-keepin', clerkin' it, conductin' m
drivin' horse-cars-actilly carryin' a hod
one time. Studyin' law now. Lucky that
/ could get him to clerk it for me this sum-
mer, for there amt no other one man in
Ameriky that could answer all the aues-
tions folks asks; material history dissecters
come here, m Injin relickers, fishin' folks
quiet folks that wants the crickets muzzled,
IN hoppin' folks that wants a band; there
amt but one thing common to 'em, m that's 8
askin questions. Sarmwell he's match for
'em.'
''Dear! dear! I must see this clerk"
murmured Mrs. Armington to her neice,
taking out her note book. II am sure he is
type. The natives have hitherto proved
so commonplace and unsatisfactory"
The niece, Miss Seraphine Collamore, col
ored sensitively; the clerk was coming out
of the Office of the hotel with her uncle
Mr.. Sidney Collamore, and must have be-
come aware that he was considered "a
type" There was suspicion Of a flush on
his bronzed cheeks, but his gray eyes were
clear and steady, and his manner perfectly
self-possessed. Miss Seraphine Collamore
blushed still more vividly as she met his
glance-a circumstance which was very
annoying to herself. Mrs. Armington sur
veyed him, notebook in hand, with as calm
curiosity as if he were well-preserved
specimen of the dodo. He was somewhat
rustic in appearance, high-shouldered, long
limbed, and ose-jointed, but with regular
features and a fine head, although some
what too large, which Mrs. Arlington
afterward spoke of as ''leonine."
Found out by Sarmwell, didn't you?
told you you couldn't catch Sarmwell nap
pin'," said the landlord, complacently. The
young man looked intensely annoyed. The
young lady turned her head away with
sympathetic tact.
Mrs. Armington smiled with bland con-
descenson on the clerk: 81 should like to
take you with me ON several excursions" :"
she said. 81 am sure you could assist me
in my researches. l should be willing to
pay"
A vigorous nudge of her brothers elbow
stopped her.
"Dear! dear! how can one keep ALWAYS in
mind the ridiculous sensitiveness of these
natlves!" she remarked, after they had
mounted the blackboard which was in wait
ing for them. But l am glad you stopped
me. Sidney, for l think he may really be
useful to me.'
'He is remarkable young man." said
her brother, emphatically. 'I've been
sounding him. He knows more law than
many man who has practised twenty
years, and he knows that two and two make
four, which is unparalleled in q man of his
years"
II knew that he was remarkable the mo-
ment saw him; said So" said Mrs Arm
ington, who liked to have the credit of
making discoveries. sand his head is 50
fine one wishes he were bronze. Now l
think of it, Seraph, he would be a perfect
model for your head of st. Paul Well,
cv,tv
Seraph shook her head, smiling slightly
'but certainly quite as much 80 as that
Italian model who disappeared when you
had just begun 1T. You talked about the
sentiment in his face, but could never see
itn
'Giuseppi had sweetheart VINO died."
said Seraph. II doubt whether this ma
-" And then she stopped short, cOloring
again. 1t was absurd to be Specializing up-
ON the love affairs of the hotel clerk. al
though one might do it in purely aesthetic
and impersonal way. She was ashamed to
remember that she had received q vague
impression, when his eyes met hers, that he
was possessed Of sentiment, although per-
haps in an undeveloped form And vet why
should one be ashamed! He was not, she
was sure, a vulgarly ''cute" and pushing
Yankee, as Aunt Fanny seemed to think
He had sometimes impressed her as being
~ fine a gentleman by nature as she had
!. ever met And how hard q time he had
had! Her imagination pictured the little
ragged. barefooted boy he must have been,
1ghting against Fate with only the aid Of
his own small hands, and the ''cute" brains
that were lurking under his tawny locks
The dangers he had passed were quite un-
3ke Othelio's, but Miss Seraph Collamore
seemed likely TO view them after Desde-
Oona's fashion
ehefeltsasuely irritsted that Aunt Fanny
onA her Uncle Sidney would 90 ON talking
abcut him viewing him from their superior
hsights.
aIt's wonderfplth the intellectual force that
crops ont among ths common people once In
. vhtle," Nr. Sidney Collsmore was saying.
"His fasher wss . hshernsn who could